Working through my hamstring injury with Dr. Mike at Precision Physical Therapy was great! I had been running ultra marathons and trail races for a few years injury-free until last summer. In August of 2024, I got to the point where every run hurt. A few months prior, I started feeling pain in my hamstring, which spread to my low back as well. The pain was manageable, and would only worsen if I ran very long distances, but by August, the pain was constant. I was stopping runs early or not running at all, and everyday activities like working at a desk and walking were uncomfortable. I was signed up for a 100k trail race in January 2024, so I knew I needed to address the issue right away if I wanted the chance to get to the starting line.
During my first appointment with Dr. Mike in early September, he diagnosed the issue right away! He explained his findings and walked me through his proposed treatment plan. What I appreciated most about my time with Mike is that he never told me to stop running, and met me where I was at with my goal to continue running through treatment and complete my race in January. I also appreciated that he made me feel very comfortable with all the treatments, such as dry needling. As someone who really does not like needles, I was very nervous, but Dr.Mike followed my lead and always checked in throughout the treatment sessions to see how I was feeling.
After only a few sessions, running became more manageable. After a few months, I returned to high-volume training while continuing to get treatment and do the prescribed strengthening exercises on my own. I went from only being able to run a few miles with lots of pain to running 65-75 miles per week with very little discomfort. I got to the starting line of my race in January feeling confident that my injury would not be a hindrance. I ended up placing the highest I’ve ever placed before, with a 7th place finish in the women’s division, and 43rd overall! This would not be possible if I had not started treatment with Dr. Mike. My only regret is not starting treatment sooner!
